Two-Core Optical Connector Plug Polarity Inversion Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional two-core optical connector plugs with vertically halved structures require separation to interchange optical connectors, exposing core wires and complicating polarity inversion, leading to potential damage and inferior workability.

Innovation Solution

A two-core optical connector plug design featuring a holder with ferrule housings, a protective boot, and a lever coupler that allows vertical inversion of the holder with optical connectors, enabling simple position interchange without exposing core wires, using latch levers and an operating lever for secure engagement and easy mounting/demounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the connector housing is separated into vertically halved structures to allow interchange of optical connectors, then the positions of optical connectors can be interchanged, but the core wires are exposed outside causing potential damage and complicating the polarity inversion process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterchangeability of optical connectorsVSAvoidexposure and potential damage to core wires
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connector housing is divided into upper and lower halved bodies that can be separated. This segmentation allows the optical connectors to be accessed and interchanged while the holder remains intact, protecting the core wires. The separated halved bodies can be reassembled after connector interchange, maintaining protection throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder acts as an intermediary component that retains the optical connectors and protects the core wires during the interchange process. By keeping the holder intact and only separating the connector housing halved bodies, the holder serves as a protective intermediary that prevents core wire exposure and damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the connector housing is separated into vertically halved structures to interchange optical connectors, then position interchange is enabled, but the process becomes complicated and workability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolarity inversion capabilityVSAvoidworkability during polarity inversion
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating only the connector housing into halved bodies while keeping the holder intact, the invention simplifies the polarity inversion process. The segmented housing allows easy access to interchange optical connectors without requiring complex disassembly of the entire connector assembly, improving workability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is pre-configured to retain the optical connectors and protect the core wires before the polarity inversion operation begins. This preliminary setup ensures that during the connector interchange process, the core wires remain protected and the operation proceeds smoothly without unexpected complications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the holder retains optical connectors and protects core wires during vertical inversion, then core wires remain protected, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of core wiresVSAvoidstructure of holder and connector housing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the connector housing into separable upper and lower halved bodies while keeping the holder as a unified structure. This selective segmentation provides the necessary protection for core wires during inversion operations without adding unnecessary complexity to the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is designed to nest within or work in conjunction with the connector housing structure. This nested arrangement allows the holder to retain and protect the optical connectors and core wires efficiently, achieving reliable protection with minimal additional structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2985647B1Two core type optical connector plug
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 SANWA DENKI KOGYO KK
  • EP2985647B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2985647B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2985647B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a two core type optical connector plug capable of simply interchanging positions of a pair of optical connectors disposed left and right. The two core type optical connector plug includes a holder (1) that holds ferrule housings (10A, 10B) of a pair of optical connectors (A, B) to become one body and houses core wires of a pair of optical fiber cables extending backward, a boot (2) that simultaneously protects the pair of optical fiber cables extending backward from the holder (1), and a lever coupler (20) that is formed to be mountable on or demountable from the holder (1). The lever coupler (20) is formed to connect a pair of latch levers (5a, 5a) to a tip side of an operating lever (7) mounted on the holder (1) so as to correspond to the ferrule housings (10A, 10B) and to provide elasticity.